Poll: De Blasio Establishes Lead Over Quinn, Thompson in Mayor Race

With less than two weeks before New York City's primary election, De Blasio has 36% of Democratic vote; Quinn: 21%; Thompson: 20%

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio has hurtled ahead of his Democratic competitors -- capturing almost enough votes needed to avoid a runoff election -- in the race to replace Mayor Michael Bloomberg in City Hall, a new poll showed.

De Blasio has captured 36% of New York City's Democratic vote, besting City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's 21% and Bill Thompson's 20%, according to a Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday.

A candidate needs to earn 40% of the vote in order to avoid a runoff election.

"Voters are responding to Bill de Blasio because he is the only Democrat who will boldly break from the Bloomberg years by raising taxes on the wealthy to invest in universal pre-K and after-school programs, ending racial profiling, and fighting to save community hospitals," said Bill Hyers, de Blasio's campaign manager.

"We expect a tight race and we expect that on primary night Christine Quinn will be in a runoff, because New Yorkers want an effective progressive who can actually get things done," said Mike Morey, a spokesman for Quinn.

And despite recently earning endorsements from three of New York City's largest daily newspapers, the poll finds Quinn would lose in runoff elections against both de Blasio and Thompson.

Anthony Weiner has 8% of the vote. Comptroller John Liu has 6%, and Sal Albanese has 1%.